Questions tagged [commentaries]
Questions related to Jewish commentaries, their meaning and their origin.
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Why does G-d, blessed be He, say that something did not enter His mind when He is all-knowing?
Jeremiah 19:5 states:
They have built high places to Baal on which to burn their children in the fire as offerings to Baal— something I never commanded or mentioned, nor did it even enter My mind.
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Ibn Ezra on Vayikra 26:45
Can someone help me understand the first Ibn Ezra on the pasuk?
The pasuk:
וזכרתי להם ברית ראשנים אשר הוצאתי־אתם מארץ מצרים לעיני הגוים להית להם
לאלקים אני ה׳
But I will remember for them the ...
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Masei: spiritual rectification through the encampments
The Torah in Parashas Masei tells us (Bamidbar 33:1):
Eileh Masei B'nei Yisrael - these are the journeys (encampments) of
the children of Yisrael
One of the journeys was from Sinai to Kivroth ...
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Did Rashi die while working on multiple tractates?
I've seen printed in some גמראs that רש"י died, and another פרוש follows. Is there any evidence to support this? Is it possible that רש"י's commentary was partially lost in some tractates?
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Parashas Eikev: The Consolation of Exile
The Lubavitcher Rebbe is quoted in explaining that just as the theme of the haftara of this weeks parasha "Eikev" is "redemption", so too is the case with the parasha itself.
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Do the sages give any sort of insight as to why humans and land animals were created AFTER birds and fish?
The genesis description of creation states that on the 5th day, G-d created all fish and sea creatures and filled the sky with all variety of birds that fly.
After this, G-d creates all the land ...
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Tzafnat Panei’ach
I’m looking for some help with Tzafnat Panei’ach’s commentary to Genesis 17:23 (pages 137-138 of this PDF). Specifically:
The author queries whether Abraham circumcised himself before his household, ...
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Why did only Pinchas (know how to) respond?
The Torah relates the story of Pinchas, who, after seeing Zimri committing an act of immorality, in front of the leaders of B'nei Yisrael, took initiative and took action. The Torah says:
And, behold,...
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Pinchas and the continuing atonement
The Gemara in Sanhedrin 82b interprets the posuk in Bamidbar 25:13 to mean that the atonement Pinchas facilitated, is worthy of continuing to atone forever
The Holy One, Blessed be He, said to Moses: ...
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The Klausenberger Rebbe: Parah Aduma and Torah study
The Klausenberger Rebbe, Yekusiel Yehudah Halberstam, in his sefer Shefa Chaim, on parashas Chukas, explains (I've heard in a online-shiur by Rav Daniel Glatstein, that the Klausenberger Rebbe said
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Satmar Rav in Divrei Yoel: the goal of Eretz Yisrael
This article on Parashas Pinchas quotes the Satmar Rav in Divrei Yoel, vol. 6, where it says:
The Satmar Rebbe, ZY"A, in Divrei Yoel (Parashas Emor pp. 184-185) decries the false ideas ...
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Non-Hebrew Torah commentary
There is a teaching that only Torah commentary written in Hebrew, the holy tongue, will endure.
However, the entire Talmud and the Book of Daniel are not in Hebrew, but in Aramaic. Even some parts of ...
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Parashas Korach: and take every man his censer, and put incense in them: why this procedure?
In parashas Korach, we read about the complaint of Korach that Moshe Rabbeinu and Aharon HaKohen took to much upon themselves.
The Torah writes (Bamidbar 16:3):
and they gathered themselves together ...
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Recommended commentary on the Mesilas Yeshorim of the Ramchal?
Are there any well-accepted commentators on the Mesilas Yeshorim of the Ramchal?
The Lehmann's website has amongst others:
מסילת ישרים עם פירוש יודע לשאול
מסילת ישרים עם פירוש מסילות יהודה
מסילת ...
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Shelach: sending the spies to feel the Torah in the environment of Eretz Yisrael
Rabbi Sam Shor, in the Torah Tid Bits of Parashas Shelach 5783 (Simchas Shmuel) quotes the Chiddushei HaRim and says that the Chiddushei HaRim says that the original goal of sending out the meraglim - ...
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Where can I find this in Sefer HaRokeach
I am trying to located "pirush Harokeach" on Meggilat Esther, but I'm having a very hard time finding it.
Specifically i am looking for his pirush on Esther 3:6 regarding Haman being a ...
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Missing vav or not in Bamidbar 7:2
In parshat Nasso (Bamidbar 7:2), the Torah says
וַיַּקְרִ֙יבוּ֙ נְשִׂיאֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל רָאשֵׁ֖י בֵּ֣ית אֲבֹתָ֑ם הֵ֚ם נְשִׂיאֵ֣י הַמַּטֹּ֔ת הֵ֥ם הָעֹמְדִ֖ים עַל־הַפְּקֻדִֽים׃
On this verse, the Minchat ...
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The Holy Water of the Sotah: what does it symbolize?
The Sotah (the woman suspected of marital infidelity), was instructed to drink the bitter waters (Bamidbar, chapter 5) as an punishment.
And the priest shall bring her near, and set her before the L-...
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Manna From Heaven One who took more had nothing extra and one who took less wasn't laking
"One who took more had nothing extra and one who took less wasn't laking" (Shemot 16:18)
What does it mean? One who took more was satisfied with more meaning he ate everything and was ...
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Jeremiah 17:9 translation: heart is incurable?
How correct are the translations that say heart is deceitful above all and incurable? In the LXX there's no deceitful just deep and that it is man. My concern is mainly about the "incurable" ...
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(Early) Acharonim on Taharot?
There is no Gemara on most of Seder Taharot apart from Maseches Niddah. There are commentaries on the Mishnayos there from Rambam and the Rash as well as the Rosh, Maharam of Rottenburg and Hai Gaon. ...
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What do we want? How to resolve this seeming mixed message in Alshich on Shir HaShirim 1:4?
Here is an excerpt. I recommend learning the whole commentary on 1:4 before considering answering the question.
הה"ד משכני וכו' והוא כי הלא יקשה בכתוב אשר הערנו למעלה אומרו משכני
לשון יחיד נרוצה ...
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Cain and Abel in Sefer ha-Ikkarim
This article by Rabbi Sacks z”l states that, according to Sefer ha-Ikkarim, Cain killed Abel as a human sacrifice (believing that that was the best way of paying tribute to Hashem). But the actual ...
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Do we know how Rabbi Moshe Feinstein felt about Malbim's commentary on Nach?
Igros Moshe OCI:157 says one can make a siyum on any book of Tanach "provided it was studied with our Rishonim; not those latter-day commentaries who make up new stuff and show contempt for the ...
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Why does the Torah sometimes use riddles, metaphor and misleading words instead of direct explanation?
If the Torah's lessons are critical for all to know, and written by Hashem, why is it sometimes so obtuse?
Let's focus this question on 2 places: the 3 sefarim of King Shlomo Shir HaShirim, Kohellet ...
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Our inner flame of Torah and the Rama
The posuk in parashas Tzav writes:
and the fire of the altar shall be kept burning in it.
The Lubavitcher Rebbe in Likkutei Sichos (Vol. 1, p. 217; parashas Tzav) explains that the Torah we study ...
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Hashem wrapped Himself in Light
Midrash Tanchuma Vayachel 6:
שָׁאַל רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן בֶּן יְהוֹצָדָק אֶת רַבִּי שְׁמוּאֵל בַּר
נַחְמָן. אָמַר לוֹ: אַתָּה בַּעַל הַגָּדָה, אֱמֹר לִי הֵיאַךְ בָּרָא
הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא אֶת ...
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"The north side of the altar" - why the north side?
The Torah in Vayikra 1:11 teaches us that, for example the sheep that was being used as an korban, needed to be slaughtered on the north side (צָפֹ֖נָה) of the altar:
It shall be slaughtered before ...
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The teaching of the Baal Shem Tov: Healing and Vayikra El Moshe
On the words "ויקרא אל משה וידבר ה' אליו מאהל מועד לאמר" - And the L-rd called to Moshe, and spoke to him out of the Tent of Meeting, saying (Vayikra 1:1), the Baal Shem Tov writes that all ...
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Sefer Ginat Egoz on the lessons derived from the prohibition to light a fire on the Sabbath and from Temple-service
The Shaloh HaKadosh in Torah Shebikhtav, Sefer Vayikra, Torah Ohr, Shmini on this week's parasha (Vayakhel-Pekudei) mentions Sefer Ginat Egoz (probably written by Rabbi Yosef Gikatilla, since it is ...
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Collections of insights on the weekly Parasha
I am looking for an easy-to-read, English sheet with insights from the weekly parasha, which can also include chassidus like Ohev Yisroel, Meor VeShemesh etc...
Are there, besides Parsha Sheets.com, ...
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The half shekel and atonement for the soul
In parashas Ki Sissa, G-d instructs Moshe to collect from all the people, half a shekel:
When thou dost take the sum of the children of Yisra᾽el after their
number, then shall they give every man a ...
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Daniel and the little horn
Rashi says that the horn in Daniel 8:9 is Titus, Avraham Ibn 'Ezra says it is Antiochus Epiphanes. There is a very good reason in saying that it is Titus, because it is written:
וְהֻשְׁלַ֖ךְ מְכ֥וֹן ...
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Why was the "pure olive oil, beaten for the light" brought to Moshe and not to Aharon?
In parashas Tetzaveh, we read that G-d instructs Moshe Rabbeinu to instruct to Jewish people to bring him pure olive oil:
And thou shalt command the children of Yisra᾽el, that they bring thee pure ...
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Nezikin, Being a Chossid and parashas Mishpatim: is there a connection?
The Gemara in Bava Kamma 30a shares the teaching of Rav Yehudah concerning one who wishes to be a chossid, e.g. a pious person.
One who wants to be pious should observe the matters of tractate ...
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Why did Hashem confuse the tongues of the tower-builders, rather than set them at enmity with each other?
Shalom.
I have tonight been grappling with a challenge to emunah posed by historical linguistics - i.e. the fact that new languages develop naturally, through the separation, or the divisions between, ...
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Why was Matan Torah dependant of Yisro blessing G-d?
The Lubavitcher Rebbe in Likkutei Sichos (vol. 11, p. 74) quotes the Zohar in saying that if Yisro did not bless G-d and proclaim that G-d is the True One and Only G-d, the Torah wouldn't been given ...
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Does G-d desire relationship?
From where was it derived that G-d wants to have companionship/relationship with man? On what basis has it been concluded that the Almighty seeks to have a personal relationship with man?
Someone (non-...
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Lifting up the holy sparks - The Ari on Mitzrayim
Lifting up the holy sparks is also known as nitzotzos dikedushah (see footnote 10, see also this answer). I recently saw this article quoting the Ari HaKodesh in saying that the work the Jewish People ...
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Yisro and the message of the convert
This weeks parasha (Yisro) starts with the posuk stating that:
When Yisro, the priest of Midyan, Moshe’s father in law, heard of all that G-d had done for Moshe, and for Yisrael his people, and that ...
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Comparisons between life in Eden and life in the wilderness
I'm looking for sources comparing the Israelites' life in the wilderness to life in Eden.
The Chassidic understanding of the sin of the m'raglim is that they wanted to continue their wholly spiritual ...
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Perplexing section of Moreh Nevuchim
The Rambam writes in Moreh Nevuchim: Prefatory Remarks/Directions for the Study of this Work (numbering mine):
(1) ואני משביע באלהי יתברך כל מי שיקרא מאמרי זה שלא יפרש ממנו אפילו
דבר אחד, ולא יבאר ...
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Unexplained repetitions in Torah
Nothing in the Torah is superfluous. So, when there are repetitions, our Sages explain why the repetition is necessary. But there is one very frequent instance where I could find no explanation for ...
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Why did Moshe Rabbeinu need to stretch out his hand?
At the start of the plague of darkness, G-d tells Moshe Rabbeinu to stretch out his hand towards Heaven, that there may be darkness of the land of Mitzrayim:
And the L-rd said to Moshe, Stretch out ...
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Parshiot names together & meaning
I'm looking for sources and mefarshim that dealt with the Parshiot names and their meanings, not only for a single Parsha name alone, but all the Parshiot names of the Torah together or of a Sefer.
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Why wait longer? Why did the Jewish people need to stay in Mitzrayim until after the plagues?
The Tur, Rabbi Yaakov ben Asher writes in his commentary on Shemos 9:12 that G-d had to harden the heart of pharaoh, in order to prevent that pharaoh would capitulate prematurely. This because G-d ...
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Hadrash V'HaIyun on Parashas Vaera: translation request
In sefer Hadrash V'HaIyun, Rabbi Aharon Levin comments on Parashas Vaera. However, I am not able to understand these concepts. Can somebody maybe translate it, maybe that would help me in getting ...
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Explanation of a Tosfos on Kesubos 111a; ד"ה בבלה
I was reading the Gemara about whether it is permissible to emigrate from Babylonia to Eretz Yisrael (Kesubos 111a). Rav Yehudah holds that whoever ascends from Babylonia to Eretz Yisrael, ...
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Here I am- how did Moshe know that it was G-d calling him?
In Parashas Shemos, we read:
And the angel of the L-rd appeared to him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and he looked, and, behold, the bush burned with fire, but the bush was not ...
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Attained Holiness by Yaakov in Mitzrayim
Rabbi Tzadok HaKohen of Lublin, in his work "Pri Tzadik" on Parashas Vayechi 1:5 explains:
The completion of Jacob's holiness is specifically in Egypt, and not in the land of Israel. This ...
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